Page 36 of A Night of Forever
“I don’t think you’re in any position to dictate terms,” Victoria said. “However, I do promise you he won’t be hurt.”
As though Victoria had proved herself trustworthy. “Do you really expect me to believe your word?”
Her stepmother lifted a brow. “When have I ever lied?”
“When you told the magistrate the fire was an accident.” It was out of her mouth before she could stop it. “You and I both know Taggert told you it had been deliberately lit.”
Victoria’s smile faded, and the amicable mask slipped. “Dufort,” she said softly, “take the boy upstairs.”
“No!” The little boy clung to her as if his life depended on it. “No, don’t let him take me away. Please.”
Isobel’s anger flared, but there was little she could do. If Dufort had to pull Sealey out of her arms, the child would get hurt.
Where was Arend?
“Don’t cry, sweetheart.” She stroked his hair back. “Look at me. Go with Mr. Dufort for the moment. As soon as I’ve talked to Lady Victoria I’ll come and find you.” But her heart was heavy, and her words felt hollow.
Dufort wasn’t rough or harsh, but he was uncompromising. Isobel couldn’t bear the sight of the little boy’s tears and outstretched arms as he was taken from the room.
“You’ll pay for this,” she told Victoria when the door had closed on his pitiful wails. “What are you going to do with him?”
Victoria rose and moved over to the sideboard where a decanter and glasses stood. “You should be more concerned about what I have planned for you. Brandy?”
Isobel shook her head. She didn’t trust any drink Victoria might offer.
Victoria laughed. “Oh, my dear. You are far too clever to have been born a female. However, if I wanted you drugged or poisoned, Dufort would hold your mouth open while I poured it down your throat. Care to change your mind?”
It galled Isobel to do so, but she was thirsty, and if she was to escape with Sealey, she needed to keep her heart and strength. “Thank you, yes.”
Victoria poured brandy into two snifters and brought one to Isobel. When Isobel took the drink, Victoria returned to her seat, took a sip of the liquid, and swallowed. “See? Quite safe.”
Isobel followed suit, letting the brandy warm her belly as she tried to select a sensible strategy. “I understand how Sealey might be useful to you. I don’t understand why you need me.”
“Really?” Victoria tilted her head slightly. “I thought it would be obvious. I need you because the Libertine Scholars are men who should not be underestimated.”
If Victoria was afraid, she had good reason. Isobel had every confidence that Arend would find and rescue them.
“Why? Why attack these men? Why harm an innocent child?”
Victoria straightened in her chair and smiled, wide-eyed and delighted. “How marvelous. They don’t trust you. If they did, you’d know why.”
That her stepmother knew the truth made Isobel cringe. “Well, I don’t, so why not tell me?”
Victoria lifted her snifter in a toast. “Why not?” She sipped from the glass. Lowered it. “My plan is moving along very nicely. With Arend in my custody—”
The snifter fell from Isobel’s fingers. “No.”
“Yes. So occupied with his seduction of sweet, innocent Isobel last night in my stables, he did not hear Dufort and his men until it was too late.” She waggled her finger. “You made it far too easy.”
She would not break down, not in front of this woman.
“You don’t believe me.” Victoria rose and came toward her. “You will. Dufort is going to reunite you and Arend very soon. But not for the purpose of carnal pleasure.”
She cupped Isobel’s face in one palm. “You’ll see Arend, because I intend to kill you and frame him for your murder.” Sickened, Isobel jerked away. Victoria merely laughed. “What fun it will be to see him hang for a crime he did not commit.”
How ironic. She was nothing to Arend except as a means to spy on Victoria. She was nothing to Victoria except as a means to kill Arend. Neither cared if she lived or died. No one cared. She was on her own.
But if she was going to die, she refused to die in ignorance. “You still haven’t told me why. If I’m to die, I should at least learn the truth.”
